Nebraska Football: 5 possible head coach replacements for Mike Riley

4. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy head coach

If Nebraska really wants to get back to their roots of tough, hard-nosed option football, Ken Niumatalolo is their guy. Niumatalolo is in his 10th season as head coach for Navy, compiling an 83-47 record as head coach. Niumatalolo was a disciple of Paul Johnson, who brought option football back to Navy when he arrived in 2002. When Johnson left for Georgia Tech after 2007, Niumatalolo kept the option attack in place and has brought nothing but success.

Under Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne, Nebraska developed and identity of running the triple option endlessly, capturing all five of the programs national championships running that offense. The option attack produced legendary players such as Johnny Rodgers, Turner Gill, Mike Rozier, Tommie Frazier and Eric Crouch. For the longest time, Nebraska was able to get the best triple option recruits and win consistently with them.

Niumatalolo would surely give the Nebraska program memories of yesteryear with his throwback offense. But it could be the distinct difference that could help Nebraska return to the top.